Thermostatic level-controller.



EDWARD P. NOYES, OF WINCHEST ER, MASSACHUSETTS.

THERMOSTATIQ LEVEL-CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent. i Applicatioiifiled October 12, 1906. Serial No. 282.397-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWA'RD P. N ones, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nin chester, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thermostatic Level Controllers, of which the following s ecificatio'n and accompanying drawings il ustrate the invention in a form which I now regardas the best out of the variousiorms in which it may be embodied.

" This invention aims to automatically control the temperature of a fluid by varying a water-level.as, for example, where the level of water in an internal-con'ibustion steam' and gas generator is varied to regulate the by-passing of unquenched products of combustion around the body of water and to regulate the area for surface-superheating or where a steam-superheater is more or less flooded with water to control the temperature of the steam.

7 The invention involves the use of an automatic level-controller, preferably of the type employing a diaphragm or equivalent having chambers on opposite sides, in one of which the fluid -,pressure is varied by the action of the shift-ing water-level to create a differential pressure on the diaphragm, whereby motion is transmitted to a feedvalve or other device for controlling the rate of supply of feed-water to the vessel controlled. To such a controller I would apply a thermostat subject to the temperature of the output of the generator. or superheater and. controlling the differential pressure on the diaphra 111 through a suitable device, such as a va ve governin the leakage from the variable-pressure diap agm-chamber.

The invention also involves certain improvements in level controlled apparatus ereinafter described.

' 0f the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a sectional view of a thermostatic level-controller embodying my invention and applied to an internal-combustion steam-and gas generator. Fig. 2 represents an enlarged section of the inlet ends of the dip tubes. Fig. 3 represents asection of the head of the thermostatic rod. p

The same reference characters represent the same parts in all the views.

1 is a generator of the type shown in Reeve Patents Nos. 588,178 and 588,293 and including a constant -.pressure burner (not shown in these drawings) and a combustionoutlet in a body of water in the coo. ingchamber formed by the lower part of the outer generatorcasing, .the gases issuing through a series of perforations 8 in the lower part of the combustion chamber. The steam thus created is superheated in passing and eading back to the pump between; its

cylinder and the inlet check-valve 64, said by-pass also having a check-valve 63 and cushion-chamber 65, an arrangement which I Patented Oct, 9,1906.

tube 7 leading therefrom and havin i its has been. found to give good results and to be a superior to a simple by-pass discharging to the suction-conduit of the pump for this.

kind of a controller. L

The stem 67 of valve 66 is attached to a dip-tape 10, supported by adiaphragm 12,

and is further controlled by a dip-tube 4 within tube 10 and supported by a second diaphragm 6 above diaphragm 12, the tube 4 having a head so that the 11 ward movement of either diaphragm opens y-nass valve. 66

and diminishes the supply of ee'd-water to f Tube 4 has its inlet at 3 and the generator. tube 10 its inlet just above at 9. Pipes, 60 and 61v connect the casing of the controller with the generator 1 below and above the waier-llline, so that the level stands'thejsame in Below the diaphragm IZ is the constant pressure of. the generatorand above it is a chamber 11, whose pressure-inlet is the tube 10 subject to the water-level. Below the diaphragm 6 is a pressure-chamber 14, connecting with chamber l by the open channel 13, and above diaphragm 6 is the chamber 5, whose ressure-inlet is tube 4.

From t e two upper diaphragm-chambers5 and l 1 lead leakage-pipes 15 and 18, connecting into a common header 20, and pipe 17,-

leading to some locality of lower pressure than the eneratorressure. are controll ed by needle-valves 1:6 19, carried by opposite ends of a pivotedlever il, having an arm 40. This 1s 43 against a cap 37 on t These pipes pressed by a spring e upper end of an aluminium rod 35, there being an interposed spring38, permitting rod elongation after I the upper valve 16 is closed. The lower end of-this rod is mounted in a plug 34 at the bottom. of a perforated steel tube 33, whose upper end 36 is fixed. The lower. end of the tube projects into a casing 31, included in the course of the outlet-pipe 30, which conducts the motive mixture of steam and products of combustion away from the generator. This 'casing'also forms a separater, which automatically drains back to the water ot.

through a pipe 82, containing check-Va ve 83, and cock 32 and having blow-off '80. This separator removes dust resultingfrom excess of by-passed hot gases and finel -divided water or fog caused by violent ebul ition in a restricted cooling-chamber. The aluminium rod 35 and steel tube 33 constitute a thermostat in which the elongation of the rod by heating is greater than that of the tube, so

that temperature in the conduit above a predetermined; point tends to close the needlevalve 16 an pen '19, while a temperature below that .pomtihas the opposite effect. The

' -exact location or construction of the thermo- 3 The chamber 11 the functions described. v v

bov'e the lower diaphragm 12 drains back to the water-space of the generator through a ipe 54, having an inlet just above said diap ragm, but considerably below the up containing a stop-Va ve 7 0, while the chamber 5 above upper is a reservoir 71, having a vent 73, back to chamber 5. A check-valve 7 2' in said conduit below the reservoir opens toward the generator. r i

The operation is as follows: Water. rises in generator and controller until it reaches about the level X X, coverin the inlet 3 of.

v dip-tube 4. Leakage from t e chamber '5 above diaphragm 6 by wayof pipes 15 i7 and. theopen valve 16 then reduces the pressure in said chamber and the diap agm 6 rises, opening the by-pass valve 66 and diminishing or sto ping the supply of'feedwater. At this evel, however, the uppermost row "of perforations 8 remains uncoyered and the superheating oi the mixture of gases and steam by. surface conduction and assing of unquenehedgases increases until the thermostat 33 35 has closed leakagevalve 16. This bottles the upper diaphragm- Chamber 5 and puts the upper controller out of commission for the time being, for pressures above and below diaphragm 6 are quickly balanced through a fall of water- "level by evaporation, causing the diaphragm .60

to close by-pass valve 66, after which the water-leve'i can rise'without hindrance past theinlet of tube 4; It does so until suflicient :outer surface of'the combustion-tube 7 has been covered and perforations 8 closed to reduce the superheat to a point where the statis not material so long as it performs or .end of tube 10 and diaphragm 6 drains back tothe water-space by a pipe 50, in which,

thermostat opens valve 16 and again laces the upper diaphragm in operative con itlon, so that it may check further rise of water-. level.

Since the lowering of temperature to the point of operating the thermostat may not take lace quickly enough to prevent an undue coding of the generator, especially in view of the surface superheat by combustiontube 7 after all perforations 8 are covered,

I utilize the operative effect of the second therefore place the valve 19, under control of the thermostat, although this is not essential in the simplest form of the invention.

It will beseen that the thermostat varies.

the standard level established by the controller.

When-during a period of high water-level the thermostat opens valve 16, the blow past said valve causes water to rise in tube 4 and flood the chamber 5 for a time until the level has fallen below inlet 3. To immediatelyre;

turn this water to the generator would retafd the dropping of. the level, and I therefore store the water thus blown over in chamber 71, into which the water from the generator.

is preventedjfrom backing up by check-valve 721 As soon as inlet 3 has been uncovered and full pressure restored to the chamber 5.

this stored water returns by gravit to the common level and contributesstabi ity at a time of falling level. Y

Such water as may be blown up through dip-tube 10 if allowed to accumulate in chamber 11 creates a head counter to the upward differential pressure in diaphragm 12 and diminishes the power available for operating the valve 66. As a small power loo means economygin operation, I may partially close the'valve in return-pipe 54 and regulate this counter-he'ad to a desired amount.

The diaphragms 6 and 12 I prefer to make of rubber or equivalent material instead of metal, since they are found to remain cool,

because the steam in the fluid which reaches them condenses out and leaves comparatively dry gases of low" specific heat in contact with them. The'rubber diaph'ragms are more flexible than metal and. possess otherad vantages. I

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is' I 4 1. "A vess'el adapted to contain a pool of water and discharging a fluid whose temperature is-varied by varying the water-level, a

level-controlled automatic device for varying the Water-level, and means controlled by'the temperature of the out ut from said vessel plurality of outlets at difl'crent heights, means for supplying a pool of water in the lower part of said generator immersing the discharge end. of said tube, a superheating-pas-' sage extending upwardly from said pool and embracing the combustion-tube, an eduction-conduit leading from said passage, an automatic level-controller establishing the level of the pool at or aboutsaid outlets, and a thermostat in said conduit for varying the standard level, established by said level-con-- troller.

4. In combination, a pressure vessel having a variable liquld-level and. a vapor-diseharge whose temperature depends upon the liquid-level, a member operated by diflerential pressure caused by variation in said level for performing a useful function with respect to the vessel, and means controlled by the temperature of the discharge from said vessel for controlling said differential pressure.

5. In combination, a vessel discharging a heated va or, means for supplying water to said vesse a water-level controller operated by differential pressure, and a thermostat subject to the temperature of the vapor-discharge from said vessel for varying the differential pressure.

6. In combination, a differential member having pressure-chambers on opposite sides thereof,-a leakage-outlet from one of said chambers, a valve controlling said outlet, a thermostat controlling the valve, and a chamber adapted. to contain a body of water whose level controls the pressure in the leakagechamber and furnishing steam whose temperature controls the thermostat.

7. In combination, a pressure vessel having a steam-discharge, means to supply water thereto, and a controller for so varying said supply as to regulate the temperature of the steam, the same comprising a differential member having chambers on opposite sides thereof, means for controlling the pressure in one of said chambers by the level of the water, and a leakage-outlet having a valve controlled byQthe temperature of the steam.

- 8. In combination, apressure vessel furnishing superheated steam, means for supplying a body of water therein whose level controls the temperature of the steam, 'an au-;

tomatic level-controller controlled .by the temperature ot'the steam, and a second automatic level-controller operating at a higher standard level than the first said controller.

9. In combination, a superheating stearnpressure vessel, an automatic device con trolling the water-level therein, and a second" automatic level-controller o crating bydif-' ferential pressure at a di erent standard level from said device and having a leakageoutlet controlling the differential and con-- trolled by the temperature of the steam froma said vessel.

10. The combination of a ,feed-'valve,- twoautomatic level-controllers operating at different standard water-levels and both concontrollers.

]1. The com-bin'ation'of 'upper'and lower ,diaphragms each having ressure-charn'bers on its opposite sides, two ip-tubes attached to the respective diaphragms and located one within the other for controllin the pressure on one side of each diaphragm y means of a varying liquidlevel, and mechanism operated by said diaphragms.

12. In combination, a steam-pressure vessel, two automatic devices controlling the water-level therein and operating at different standard water-levels, and means for disabling one of said devices upon the attainment of a predetermined steam temperature.

13. In combination, a steam-pressure vessel, two automatic devices controlling the water-level therein and one operating at a lower standard water-level. than the other, and a thermostat controlled by the steam tem erature and adapted to disable the latter evice.

14. In combination, a steamressure vessel, two automatic level-centre ers therefor operating at different standard Water-levels respectively, andv means controlled by the steam temperature for alternatively rendering said devices temporarily inoperative.

15. The combination of two level-controlled members 0 erated by differential pressure and having eakage-valves for varying the differential, a lever opening and closing the respective valves alternatively, and a thermostat for o crating said lever. 16. A liquidevel-controlled mechanism com risin a difierential member adapted to' be e evate above the liquid-level, a pressurechamber on one side thereof, a conduit openmg) mto said chamber and having an inlet su J ect to the liquid-level, a return-conduit extendin from said chamber to a point below the hquid-level and having a reservoirspace,- and a check-valve in said return-controlling saidvalve, and .teinperature-actu-f ated means for controlling one of said levelduit located below said reservoir-space and openin away therefrom. 1

'17. n combination, a ressure vessel adapted to containa liqui a differential 5 member above the liquid-line, .a pressure-= chamber onthe upper slde of said member, a conduit having an-ni-let subject to the liquidlevel and an outlet to said chamber above the level of said member, a return-conduit hav- 10 ing an outlet to said vessel below the li uid- I livery side of the pump-and discharging, to

20 the suction side thereof at a point betweenthe pump and said check-valve, avalve in said 5 b -pass, and a level-controller o, erated by differential pressure and control ed by the water-level in said vessel-for controlling said valve.

19. In comblnation, a steam and'gas constant-pressure generator, controller-cham-' bers located above the liquid-level in said generator and receiving the ressure .ofits contents, means controlled y the waterlevel for varying the relative pressures, and a diaphragm separating said chambers and suchas rubber.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, the 1st day of September, 1905;,

EDWARD P, NOYES.

- Witnesses: A. M. HARRISON. L; E. KENNEDY.

\ composed of a flexible .non-metallic-material 

